Fathering Fathers group begins new season

Friday

Oct 25, 2013 at 6:00 AM

By Joni Koogler, BANNER CORRESPONDENT

BOYLSTON — Being a father, and a good one, isn't an easy task for everyone. Kids aren't born with instruction manuals for new parents, but one area support group that formed earlier this year is determined to help local dads be good at the job.

Fathering Fathers is the name of the group led by Jake Milano, a Tahanto High School guidance counselor, and Milano's friend, Michael Sanford, an active community service organization member and former school council member and youth camp counselor.

So just what is Fathering Fathers all about? The group's brochure and website state the purpose for the group succinctly: "It's about FUN...and an opportunity for sons and fathers to enjoy connecting in a playful and interactive setting."

Milano sees the purpose of the group as fairly simple.

"The gist of Fathering Fathers is about building relationships between fathers and sons," Milano said. "We meet as a group, not just with fathers. It's the fathers and the sons. We talk about whatever activity we're doing, and we begin to articulate what sons get from fathers and what fathers got from their own fathers.

"The boys and the dads get so much from this, and it just grows. Everything multiplies as everyone talks and opens up," Milano said.

Sanford is quoted on the group's website talking about how important small things, even a father's laughter, can be to his child.

One Boylston father of three, Nate Rollins of Cross Street, has participated in Fathering Fathers since the group formed earlier this year, and he can't say enough about the organization.

"I'm in love with this group," Rollins said earlier this week.

Rollins and his 9-year-old son, Mateo, attended the most recent Fathering Fathers activity on Oct. 5, a geo-caching hunt at Mount Pisgah, on the border of Northboro and Boylston.

"We went to the geo-caching (event) at Mount Pisgah and we enjoyed it so much," Rollins said. "We had so much fun that we now plan to do it as a family."

Rollins was more specific about what he likes about Fathering Fathers.

"I appreciate the instigation the group provides," he said. "I mean, we all want to spend more time with and improve our relationships with our children. But with everybody's busy lives, it's challenging to find the time to schedule those times."

And that's where Fathering Fathers helps, he noted.

"If you schedule it, it gets done. This group provides the instigation to spend time with your son," Rollins said.

A flier Mateo brought home from Boylston Elementary School (BES), made Rollins aware of the group, and he started immediately.

"I've been trying to spread the word about the group," Rollins said. "I believe in the mission of Fathering Fathers, and I support them."

The group meets monthly, and has targeted fathers in Boylston, Berlin and West Boylston until now. Milano and Sanford want to see its membership expand.

"We're heading in the right direction, but we want to build and make the group bigger," Milano said. "We've reached out to Clinton Superintendent Terry Ingano, and we're planning to have a meeting at the Clinton Elementary School within the next few months."

And Fathering Fathers will soon be recognized as an independent entity. According to Milano, he and Sanford have applied for incorporation and want to acquire non-profit status.

"Right now, there's more to do than time to do it in," Milano said.

Upcoming months have numerous activities already planned and some still in the planning stages. Fathering Fathers' calendar includes:

Saturday, Nov. 16: Fathers only meeting at Tahanto from 8:30 to 10 a.m.;

Saturday, Dec. 7: Fathers and sons group event at Boylston Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.;